So I (Male 32) work in a medium size jail, and up front in the area where we all walk in and clock in there is a board. People post all kinds of things on the board like, by/sell, room mate requests, pictures of pets and families, ect.
Well I am know to be, one of the more fit individuals, that work there I do very well on fitness tests and fill out the uniform nicely. I have over the last couple of months been asked by no less than 10 people I work with across shifts for advice on where to start trying to get in better shape.
I am no personal trainer so I mostly, try to deflect, and tell people that, it all "depends on what they are looking to get out fitness", and "Doing something is really the best starting place", but this made me feel like and asshole, so I put together a quick little workout routine about 45min-1hr worth of work a day for one week with two rest days, and began giving it to the people that asked me. With the instructions to complete the week and get back to me with your times and weights, and I would help them try and map out a routine for them. The first week was pretty cardio heavy with a 1 mile run for time and some interval work, as well as sled pushes and one day focused on upper body and one day focused on lower body so we could get working weights. It was designed to get an idea of where people were at.
Well after some encouragement from people I gave it out to when they asked, and a conversation about posting it on the board up front for people that may be to embarrassed to ask, I printed it out with my name, and number, with a note saying "if you want to change, and you want help doing it complete this workout and call for week two" at the bottom.
Fast 4 days and, I get a call from a co-worker, asking me "who I thought I was", and that " I was not better than anyone", and " that they were going to report me to the chain of command".
I tried to explain that I wasn’t judging anyone and I had just had a lot of people ask me about fitness and was trying to make it less awkward to hit me up, but nothing would land.
So was she just personally hurt, or AITAH?
NTA, I don’t think that breaks any workplace rules.
Are you charging for week 2?
No and never would, I’m not nor do I want to be a personal trainer I would far rather set people up for a couple of weeks, since it can be hard to know “what” to do at the gym, and then let them do their own thing.
NTA you didn’t do this because you thought highly of yourself, you did it because you had multiple requests. I’d be curious as to why your coworker thought you sharing your workout routine and wanting to help people was taken as a personal attack. I think their reaction says more about them than it does you. I’d also talk to your boss and get ahead of the situation and make sure you get clarification as to whether or not you did anything wrong (I don’t think you did but asking at least shows them you’re open to discussion)
NTA. You’re offering help, no biggie. Sounds like some of your co-workers are insecure.
You’re trying to help people and not only that, you did this at the behest of others, not out of some grandiose idea that you were better than anyone else. NTA – they sound like they have some issues.
NTA of course. I think what you did was very nice, especially since others have been asking you for tips. Sounds like one of your less-in shape coworkers is just easily triggered and wrongfully taking out their insecurities on others around them rather than actually working on themselves.
“HOW DARE YOU ANSWER A QUESTION MANY OF US HAVE ASKED”
NTA. someone is trying to dim your shine. you have the knowledge and ability to help others with their self-esteem and health. if people are asking you, you help. that’s it. don’t let their scary opinion or reaction to what you’re doing, stop you. keep helping!
drop the workout routine! i need some help!
NTA. You’re actually a really nice person to do this and not even ask for any compensation. Multiple ppl asked so you made it easily accessible to everyone. If ppl find it encouraging/helpful, then great…if it’s not of interest to them, then the RATIONAL thing to do would be to bypass it. The coworker who came at you about this has WAYYYY deeper personal issues that they need to resolve within themselves and possibly with therapy. You did nothing wrong.
I think they misread your intentions because of the note you left.
Maybe you could have said, “had some requests, here’s a good workout if you want to give it a try 3x a week -name with # for questions”
Maybe they still would have gotten mad, who knows, people can be sensitive about fitness and fat/weight especially.
Anyways you seem like a good dude and I’m sure most people see that.
NTA
NTA
I think it’s a pretty cool thing to do and would be interested in it if I saw it posted at my workplace.
Plus you literally had people asking for it.
I think you just inadvertently uncovered someone’s insecurity.
Why is she so upset?
Does she think she’s the de facto in house trainer?
And you are snatching away her job/ responsibility/ reputation?
Or is she obese, and thinks that you’re targeting her?